First Fill

[hottytoddy 0]

I am so envious of so many of you!!!

My doc says complete healing doesn't occur til 8 weeks and won't do a fill til then. He said he knows most do it at 6 but he doesn't recommend it. He hasn't had a slip or any complication in over 3 years, so I trust him completely... however... I'M IN BANDSTER HELL!!!!

I have NO restriction. I have a food addiction and have NO restriction. I have not felt nausea or vomited at all. Everything passes through the band just fine. I am able to overeat and don't really realize I have til it's done. In restaurants, I have not had more than 1/2 an entree and box the rest... which is much less than before... but still too much. I live in constant (albeit probably irrational) fear that I am going to hurt my band.

I know Toni shared the same feelings. We were banded on the 1st of the month so are at 4 1/2 weeks out. Things change. It's discouraging for me to hear that some of you are full after 2 tablespoons of food. I don't get it! We don't have restriction, so how is that possible? Other than occasional pressure in my chest when I need to burp... I wouldn't know the band was there!!

I have to live this way 3 1/2 more weeks. I was a self pay also and can't afford to screw up this band. I want to succeed!! But I have a true food addiction, and I believe breaking that is the same as any other addiction. Food is part of our lives. I feel like I should be locked up til my first fill, cause I don't have the will power. I wouldn't send an alcoholic to a bar after the first week of AA!! I wouldn't want a gambling addict to frequently walk through a casino but trust this time he just won't sit down and cave in!

I have no signs of problems, slip, etc. I know I'm fine. I just fill like I'm a ticking time bomb... mostly because I've screwed up weight loss so many times, I just can't accept that I've done something that is actually going to work!! I lost 16 pounds during the week before surgery til 2 weeks after surgery. I have crept up 2 pounds since then and fear it will continue to creep up...

I feel like a failure already... Before the journey has even begun. I hope this surgery wasn't a huge mistake and waste of money.

[Lady Libra 0]

Hi everyone

Loving the new group... this should make it a lot easier to keep track!

I was banded June 1st and am already ready for my first fill but my doctor likes to wait 3 months!! He can be persuaded to do it earlier (8 weeks) if weight loss has stopped however my weight loss hasn't stopped and hopefully it wont, but I am finding that my hunger has returned and my willpower needs some help therefore I would like a fill as soon a as is safe!

I was wondering when everyone else is allowed a fill? Maybe if I get some numbers behind me I can persuade him to do it earlier?? I am happy to saty on liquids/mushies if this helps healing???

Cheers

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS KT 999, on all that weight loss! I am not sure what the conversion is from KG's to LB's, but your ticker is half way, so you must be doing something that we all are not. What are you doing???

My first fill is July 12th. I want it, and need it. The mushies, have put my weight loss to a halt, and I am not overeating! I wanted to have at least 30 lbs off by now. I am going back to the gym this week, and I hope that will jump start my weight loss as well.

I love that I can talk about this to you all. My family thinks that I should be skinny by now... yeah... right!

[SimplyMe 0]

I am so envious of so many of you!!!

My doc says complete healing doesn't occur til 8 weeks and won't do a fill til then. He said he knows most do it at 6 but he doesn't recommend it. He hasn't had a slip or any complication in over 3 years, so I trust him completely... however... I'M IN BANDSTER HELL!!!!

I have NO restriction. I have a food addiction and have NO restriction. I have not felt nausea or vomited at all. Everything passes through the band just fine. I am able to overeat and don't really realize I have til it's done. In restaurants, I have not had more than 1/2 an entree and box the rest... which is much less than before... but still too much. I live in constant (albeit probably irrational) fear that I am going to hurt my band.

I know Toni shared the same feelings. We were banded on the 1st of the month so are at 4 1/2 weeks out. Things change. It's discouraging for me to hear that some of you are full after 2 tablespoons of food. I don't get it! We don't have restriction, so how is that possible? Other than occasional pressure in my chest when I need to burp... I wouldn't know the band was there!!

I have to live this way 3 1/2 more weeks. I was a self pay also and can't afford to screw up this band. I want to succeed!! But I have a true food addiction, and I believe breaking that is the same as any other addiction. Food is part of our lives. I feel like I should be locked up til my first fill, cause I don't have the will power. I wouldn't send an alcoholic to a bar after the first week of AA!! I wouldn't want a gambling addict to frequently walk through a casino but trust this time he just won't sit down and cave in!

I have no signs of problems, slip, etc. I know I'm fine. I just fill like I'm a ticking time bomb... mostly because I've screwed up weight loss so many times, I just can't accept that I've done something that is actually going to work!! I lost 16 pounds during the week before surgery til 2 weeks after surgery. I have crept up 2 pounds since then and fear it will continue to creep up...

I feel like a failure already... Before the journey has even begun. I hope this surgery wasn't a huge mistake and waste of money.

You can do it!!!! I can to!!!! We just want the weight off now! We've got to be willing to follow the journey.....what is right for us and our band....and only our individual doctors know what is right for us and when! You can "diet" until this bandster hell is over...and then laugh off your old "food addictions!" Keep me informed!!!!!

[kt_999 0]

HottyToddy

My doc is the same... no fill until 8 weeks, no exceptions! I did however get one day shy of 8 weeks as he was going to be away away for 2 weeks and I just couldn't bear the thought of waiting 10 weeks for my first fill!!!

I too can eat anything it would seem and often wonder if I am doing any harm to my band. The weight loss has stopped and I am just managing to keep at the same level without putting any on with willpower and exercise. I have however decided today to go back onto Optifast for Breakfast, diet Soups for lunch and no more than 3/4 cup Protein and vege for dinner... I know that it will be very hard but actually it's hard already (and the guilt sucks!) and I'd rather it be hard and be losing weight at the same time!! I have set myself a goal that I want to have lost 10kgs (22lbs) by my first fill so I have some work to do!!

Just try and hang in there... the time will pass, the fills will happen and the weight will come off once and for all. We are so similar in the fact that this just can't happen fast enough though! You are doing really well to be able to limit your portions as you do... better than I have been anyway so try and feel really good about that.

[kt_999 0]

Lady Libra

Thanks! I started on a pre-op diet 8 weeks before surgery and also started with a lower BMI so although I have done well to get 1/2 way there are others that have done much better but just have a longer journey. I have also only lost 4.5kg (10lbs) since my surgery on June 1st... and I lost most of that the first 2 weeks and since then I have struggled with little restriction on the mushies and now solid stages. I also think that after 3 months of dieting I have been a little bit over it for the last 2 weeks and had food options that I usually wouldn't even consider! However, today is the day I get back into the diet. The band needs my help to work and I am impatient and would like to have 75% of my weight off by my first fill at 8 weeks post-op. Hopefully then the band will really help with the last 18lbs which I'm sure will be the most difficult to shift! I'd like to be at my goal weight by the end of October.

I lost the weight pre-op by doing 2 Optifast shakes a day and then one low fat, low carb, small dinner... and lots of walking!! Good luck to you... keep up the good work :-)

[ja9va 0]

Heather!!! I am so sorry to hear your pain in your post! I was reading it on my blackberry and wanted to reply because I felt you really needed a boost!

I understand your situation and KT, mushies and eating with out restriction has been more of a challenge. I to wanted to go back to the two Protein drinks and a small meal, because I feel that it is hard to control what I eat since it will go down.

I have been beating myself up because last night I ate way to much of this chicken wing dip I brought to a party per request. It went down with the tortilla chips without a problem. I kept saying to myself," what am I doing!!". However, I have a problem with eating grilled chicken, it gets stuck going down and hurts. tonight I was worried it would not go down but come up it hurt so bad. But it went down. I think I need to chew more.

I hope my sharing will help you because it is why we are all here! I want the band to be my last stop to this roller coaster of weight. I want to be in control for life.

Hang in there for the 1st Fill! I have a doctor appointment on Tuesday, I will share my struggles and share what advice I receive. I should get my band date for two weeks, which will be 6 weeks.

YOU CAN DO IT, WE ALL CAN!!!!!

[Suzzzie. 3]

Heather!!! I am so sorry to hear your pain in your post! I was reading it on my blackberry and wanted to reply because I felt you really needed a boost!

I understand your situation and KT, mushies and eating with out restriction has been more of a challenge. I to wanted to go back to the two Protein drinks and a small meal, because I feel that it is hard to control what I eat since it will go down.

I have been beating myself up because last night I ate way to much of this chicken wing dip I brought to a party per request. It went down with the tortilla chips without a problem. I kept saying to myself," what am I doing!!". However, I have a problem with eating grilled chicken, it gets stuck going down and hurts. tonight I was worried it would not go down but come up it hurt so bad. But it went down. I think I need to chew more.

I hope my sharing will help you because it is why we are all here! I want the band to be my last stop to this roller coaster of weight. I want to be in control for life.

Hang in there for the 1st Fill! I have a doctor appointment on Tuesday, I will share my struggles and share what advice I receive. I should get my band date for two weeks, which will be 6 weeks.

YOU CAN DO IT, WE ALL CAN!!!!!

Chicken wing dip?? Do you have a recipe? I LOVE Chicken wings - and anything with that 'buffalo' flavor. Yum!!

OK, I'm totally feeling you and Heather on this NEED A FILL thing. I've only been banded 2 weeks and can eat anything I want! Granted, I do get full faster...and i mean FULL as in Thanksgiving Day full. Its insane. It IS an addiction! Its so hard! I was seriously considering doing a few days of clears again! My tummy hurts so bad cause I just ate Roast beef with potatoes and carrots. I chew well, but a few bites still got stuck. This happened to be before the band though. I'm just so frustrated with myself!!

[hottytoddy 0]

Thanks for all of your support and honesty! I feel like on the main post everyone is constantly talking about how wonderful the Protein shakes are, and staying under 800 calories a day, and being full off a TINY amount of food... that's just not been my journey thus far! I felt very left out until you all and Toni have also confessed that you're hungry, overeating and scared!!!

It is weird that I get full a great deal faster. Like tonight at church we had a 4th of July celebration. I had a hotdog (first thing I've eaten that got stuck a little bit by the way), a handfull of chips, cup of ice cream and piece of cake. Sounds like a lot, but it really wasn't. I feel stuffed!!! That's what is so scary because the full feeling is enormous ("Thanksgiving Day" was a great way to describe it!!) That makes me feel like I massively overate... when before surgery I could have eaten twice that much! I know it's going through the band cause Im drinking a swallowing and all is flowing fine. But I agree, fullness is coming sooner and with a vengenece!!

My family just brought over my new treadmill and helped me set it up! I haven't really been exercising at all. I live in Mississippi and it's 100 degrees in the day time and hot and sticky at night. The treadmill is right in front of the tv, so maybe I'll get going!!

Tomorrow is another day...

[bandanna 0]

GOOD LUCK ON EACH INDIVIDUAL GOALS YOU SET FOR YOURSELF'S THIS WEEK!

[ja9va 0]

Heather Remember that on the main post site we are all in different stages, now everyone is post banded, so we can help those banded after us! It was night right after banded that you could not eat and did not want to....I guess real life has to hit!

How exciting about the treadmill! I live in Virginia, and it is hot and humid too. However the last two days cool at night no humidity, so walking outside is good. But the humid air is coming back which is tough...

I am off to go shopping today and hopefully keep my mind off of food!

[cbm818 0]

thank you all for your honest posts...i knew this process/journey wasn't going to be easy and somehow it makes me feel so much better knowing that i am not alone in having difficulties.

i haven't hit this stage yet, but i am now banded 12 days and it will be almost 8 weeks by the time i get a fill. i feel it coming...the hunger and more frustration.

it is nice to know others are struggling as well.

thanks again, and good luck today!

[kt_999 0]

Hi everyone

At this point I must say I am just so jealous of all of you that are having fabulous weather!! It is winter here with snow predicted for the end of the week, and today it is raining heavily.... looks like it'll be treadmill only for me for quite some time yet!!

Take care

[ja9va 0]

KT Where do you live? I am off to the doctor today, hopefully I will get my fill appointment date. At least having the date will make me feel a bit better.

[kt_999 0]

KT Where do you live? I am off to the doctor today, hopefully I will get my fill appointment date. At least having the date will make me feel a bit better.

Hi Janine

I live in New Zealand... how about you? Are you enjoying the summer or winter?

Great about the fill date... mine is 26th July and I also can't wait!! Since my doc told me he wouldn't do it any earlier I have been able to find some patience however which is great. I really do have to watch what I'm eating as all my good intentions seem to be going out the window as the plateau continues!!

[finallythin@34 0]

Hello all,

I am new to this sight but am excited to finally find a group that I can talk to about my surgery. I attended a seminar last evening after doing research for about 6 months. I was greatly encouraged and have decided to do the surgery. My best friend came with me and she is doing it also. I am scheduled for August 1 and hers is August 6th. I asked lots of questions and new ones come up every second. I guess my main concern is how hard is it to suddenly stop eating? Since my surgeon dosn't fill the band for 4 weeks after the surgery am I going to be hungry and weak all the time? How many times do you throw-up? I really hate to do that. I don't want to spend all my time hanging over the pot. I know this won't be easy and I am prepared for that I just want to do what will cause me the least pain and I don't want to feel hungry all the time. If I wanted to do that I could just go on another diet. Help!!! Tell me how you felt the first weeks after surgery.

Thanks so much.:help:

I was banded 6/11/07 and I feel great! I was concerned even to the day that I went into surgery that I should have gone with the gastric instead of the band. However, I love my band and at this point I don't regret not having a gastric.

As far as stopping eating...it was hard the first few days to eat just liquids or mushies when everyone else was eating regular. However, you won't feel hungry at first (atleast I didn't) so it wasn't really difficult to not eat. I'm at 3 weeks postop and I have not experienced any weakness and I began walking after one week. I walk 1.5 miles a day and I feel good with the exercise. I'll increase it gradually. I am just starting to get my hunger back and I haven't thrown up one time. In fact, as long as you eat slowly, listen to your body you shouldn't throw up. Eating slowly is the hardest thing for me but I'm learning. Early on I couldn't tell when I was full because I was eating just 2-4 oz. Now that I'm eating more I stop at the 1st sign that I'm getting full. Good luck! It will change your life!